Power operated clothes press



10, 8 E. DACHTLER 3,414,992

POWER OPERATED CLOTHES PRESS Filed June 28, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LM/ f\\\\\\\? .1.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,414,992 POWER OPERATED CLOTHES PRESS Emil Dachtler, 8757 SE. Con Baffin, Portland, Greg. 97266 Filed June 28, 1967, Ser. No. 649,718 1 Claim. (Cl. 38-41) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is concerned with a clothes press of the type having a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head. The movable pressing head is connected to a pair of links movable by a fluid operated cylinder. The cylinder is arranged to move the movable pressing head to open and closed positions as well as a semi-closed position with relation to the stationary head to accomplish pressing operations. A second fluid operated cylinder is used to restrict movement of the movable pressing head for positioning the latter in its semi-closed position. The parts are arranged so as to be installed on most conventional manually operable clothes presses to convert such manual structures to power.

Background of the invention This invention relates to clothes presses such as the conventional commercial type press utilizing steam and operated by a single person.

There are many manual, commercial type clothes presses being used by laundries, dry cleaning plants, and the like, and to provide a structure which will achieve the necessary pressing cooperation between a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head, a complex arrangement of linkages has been required. Such a complex structure also exists in power operated presses of this type. It is accordingly a primary objective of applicants invention to provide a clothes press of the type described which has a simplified and novel arrangement of power operated means for accomplishing pressing functions of a movable pressing head in cooperation with a stationary pressing head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a press of the type described a novel arrangement of power operated means capable of applying a light or soft pressure between the pressing heads or a firm or hard press therebetween.

Yet another object is to provide power operated means for a clothes press employing a pair of fluid operated cylinders and novel control means therefor wherein such cylinders are adapted to function cooperatively in accomplishing either a soft or hard press.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present power operated clothes press, a portion of said press being broken away to show internal parts;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of power operated means for the clothes press and control means therefor.

Description 0] the preferred embodiment With paticular reference to the drawings, a press of conventional construction comprises a frame 8 having a base 10 to which is integrated a pair of side walls or support means 11 having rearwardly disposed, upright extensions 12 supporting a cross shaft 14 adjacent their upper ends. The frame 8 also has a front wall 16 and a back wall 18 provided with a substantially full-length opening 20. The frame 8 has a horizontal front portion 22 on which is supported a frame 24 for a stationary pressing head 26. A table 28 is also supported on the press frame around the head supporting frame 24.

A movable pressing head 30 is associated with the stationary pressing head 26 for pressing articles therebetween, and such movable pressing head is supported on a U-shaped frame 32 pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 14 and operable between various operating positions by means now to be described. First, there is employed a toggle linkage employing a pair of upright links 34 and 36 at the rear of the frame. These links are pivotally connected to each other by a pin 38 and the lower link 36 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a projecting portion 40 of the base 10 by means of a pivot pin 42. The upper end of link 34 is pivotally connected, by means of a pivot pin 43, to a horizontal portion of a bell crank lever 44. Lever 44 is pivotally supported on the frame 32 by means of a cross shaft 46 supported in said frame. Pivotally attached to the upper end of bell crank lever 44 is an adjusting rod 48 the forward end of which projects freely through a cross bar 50 integrated with frame 32. This rod has screw threads 52 on its forward end and carries an adjusting nut 54 which abuts against the cross bar 50 whereby upon threaded adjustment thereof selective positioning of the bell crank lever 44 is accomplished.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1, the movable pressing head 30 is adapted to be moved to a fully open position, as seen in phantom lines, or it can be moved into engagement with the stationary pressing head 26. More particularly, the head 30 has two pressing positions, namely, it can, by suitable manipulation of the operating means 34, 36, and 44, be brought into light pressing pressure with the stationary head to accomplish a soft press or it can be brought forcefully into engagement with the stationary pressing head to accomplish a hard press, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The movable pressing head is urged to its fully open positions by a first tension spring 56 connected between the press frame and a rearward portion of the frame 32 and a second tension spring 58 connected between the base of the press and the link 36.

For the purpose of moving the head 36 between selected positions of operations, a pair of fluid operated cylinders 60 and 62 are operably associated with the link 36. Cylinder 60 has a lug extension 64 on its base end for pivotal attachment by means of a pivot pin 66 to a bracket 68 secured to the press frame, and also has a piston rod 70 terminating in a clevis 72 for pivotal connection, by means of a pin 74, to the link 36. This cylinder comprises a single acting cylinder and is associated with a fluid supply line 76 leading into the rearward portion thereof. It is apparent that upon the introduction of pressured fluid to the cylinder 60, the links 34 and 36 will be pivoted rearwardly to move the press head 30 toward a closed position. When power is removed from the cylinder 60, springs 56 and 53 pull the press open.

The cylinder 62 is secured, as by welding, to a cross plate 78 mounted on the back wall 18 of the press frame by stud bolts 80. Cylinder 62 projects toward the front end of the frame, and its piston rod 82 has an end cross head 84 adapted to abut against the rear edge of link 36. The fluid supply line 86 for the cylinder 62 leads into the rearward portion of the said cylinder, and the arrangement is such that when fluid pressure is applied to the cylinder 62 the piston rod 82 moves out of the cylinder and is arranged to prevent the links 34 and 36 from moving to an aligned or straight position which comprises a closed position of the press.

With particular reference to the linkage means 34 and 36, the movable press head 3%) is arranged to be disposed closely adjacent to the head 26 in a soft press when the links 34 and 36 are partly broken as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1. However, when the links 34 and 36 are in an aligned or straight position, the movable head 38 will engage the head 26 in a hard press. Thus, the cylinder 62 is arranged such that when powered by fluid supply the cross head 84 of its piston rod is abutted by the back edge of link 36 and the links 34 and 36 are held in their partly broken position.

The control means and cooperation of the cylinders 60 and 62 will be better understood by reference to FIGURE 4. Cylinders 60 and 62 are of identical diameter so as to impart the same power force, and the fluid supply line 86 for the cylinder 62 leads from the fluid supply line 76 of the cylinder 60. Incorporated in the line 76 outward from the juncture of lines 76 and 86, or in other words on the power supply side of such juncture, is a first valve 88 which is operable merely as an on-ofl valve for the system. This valve is of a conventional construction such that in one position thereof fluid flows through the line 76 and in another position thereof fluid is shut off from the power source and fluid from the cylinder exhausts. Incorporated in the line 86 is a second valve 90 which similarly comprises an on-oif valve wherein in one position thereof it allows fluid to flow through the fluid supply line 86 and in another position it shuts off liquid flow in line 86 and permits fluid from the cylinder 62 to exhaust.

With reference to FIGURES l and 3, valves 88 and 90 are mounted at the forward portion of table 28 for easy access to the operator.

Operation The present press will of course be equipped with the usual steam supply means in the heads 26 and 30 and operating means therefor, but such means is not shown herein and is not necessary in the description of the operation.

When it is desired to open the press, valve 88 is moved to a position to cut off the supply of pressured fluid from the source. Cylinder 60 is thus not powered and the springs 56 and 58 pull the press to its fully open position. If it is desired to close the head 30 in a hard press, valve 88 is moved to a position allowing fluid flow in line 76 while at the same time valve 90 is moved to the position closing off line 86 and exhausting cylinder 62. In this condition of the valves cylinder 60 acts with its full force on the links 34- and 36 to fully close the press, and with the proper adjustment of the rod 48, a hard press is accomplished.

When it is desired to first soft press and then hard press, the valves 88 and 98 are moved so as to provide full flow of fluid in both lines 76 and 86. In this position of the valves, both piston rods 70 and 82 are driven outwardly. Since the piston rod 82 of cylinder 62 is also extended, the crosshead 84 of its piston rod is abutted by the back edge of link 36 and cylinder 60 cannot fully close the press. More particularly, when such condition occurs, namely, when both valves are opened to allow fluid flow in the lines 76 and 86, the parts will be posi- 6 tioned as in FIGURE 4 wherein the links are positioned to provide a soft press of the heads. Then, when it is desired that the press be moved to its hard press position, the valve 90 only is moved to exhaust cylinder 62. When the cylinder 62 is exhausted the cylinder 60 is then allowed to move the links 34 and 36 to the hard press position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A power operated clothes press comprising (a) an upstanding frame having a rear wall portion,

(b) a first pressing head on said frame,

(c) an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame,

((1) a second pressing head supported on one end of said arm arranged for movement with said arm to an open position with relation to said first pressing head, a first closed position spaced closely to said first pressing head, and a second closed position in firm engagement with said first pressing head,

(e) a toggle link assembly comprising an upper link pivotally connected at its upper end to said arm at the end of the latter opposite from said second pressing head and a lower link pivotally connected at its upper end to the lower end of said upper link and its lower end to said frame,

(f) said links being arranged to break forwardly of the frame for pivoting said arm to an open position of the two pressing heads,

(g) spring means for opening said second pressing head,

(h) a first fluid operated cylinder pivotally connected adjacent to the front end of said frame and having its piston rod pivotally connected to the lower link intermediate the ends of the latter,

(i) said first fluid operated cylinder when powered being arranged to pivot the toggle links rearwardly relative to the frame for pivoting said arm to the closed positions of the second pressing head,

(j) a second fluid operated cylinder mounted stationarily on the rear wall of said upstanding frame and arranged such that when its piston rod is extended the end of the latter projects selectively into the path of said links whereby the first fluid operated cylinder is capable only of moving the second pressing head to its first closed position,

(k) and valve means controlling the operation of said cylinders,

(1) said valve means being arranged in one position thereof to cause simultaneous power operation of both of said cylinders to position said second pressing head in its first closed position and being arranged to exhaust said second cylinder only and allow said first cylinder to continue moving said second pressing head to its second closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,679,815 8/1928 Davis 3840 1,930,349 10/1933 Pendleton 38-41 2,367,102 1/l945 Davis 3841 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

